Justified use of ‘deadly force’

A 26 year old Sun Prairie man was the robbery suspect shot and killed by a Madison police officer Wednesday.

The officer who shot and killed an armed robbery suspect on Madison’s south side Wednesday had a loaded gun pointed in his face moments before using “deadly force.” That today from Police Chief Noble Wray.

Wray told a news conference that officer David Retlick was able to deflect the suspect’s gun with his arm, before firing his service weaponr. The dead man is identified as 26 year old Gregory Bickford, who at one time live in Sun Prairie. District Attorney Brian Blanchard said there’s “no question” the officer’s actions were justified.

Retlick fired five shots, four of them hit Bickford, who was dead at the scene. Police believe Bickford had robbed Cousins Subs on South Park Streets just minutes before, and is also believed to have been responsible for other recent robberies